Eudaemonic vs. Hedonic Pleasure: A Path to Understanding Embodied Joy.

When we think about pleasure, we often default to ideas of indulgence—moments of sweet satisfaction like savouring chocolate cake, taking a hot bath, or binging our favourite show. While these pleasures are important, they represent only one dimension of the full spectrum of joy.

In somatic sex education, we explore the nuances of pleasure, including how it supports our well-being and aligns with our deeper values. This brings us to two concepts from philosophy and psychology: hedonic pleasure and eudaemonic pleasure. While both are valuable, understanding their differences—and how they impact our nervous systems—can help us connect more fully with our bodies, minds, and inner wisdom.

What’s the Difference Between Hedonic and Eudaemonic Pleasure?

Hedonic pleasure is the kind of joy we experience from external sources: physical comfort, sensory delights, and immediate gratification. It feels good in the moment—like sinking into warm sand at the beach or enjoying your favorite meal. This kind of pleasure is essential for signaling safety to the nervous system, especially when we’ve experienced trauma. It’s also a reminder to pause and savor life’s simple joys. These pleasures are often the ‘cherry on top’ of what nourishes our lives - when we pay attention and choose to reach for things that feel good, we are giving ourselves embodied reminders that there is always pleasure, joy, and delight available to us, no matter out context or circumstance. We are fuelling our souls and bodies, choosing to say ‘yes’ to moments - whether big or small - that brighten, sweeten, and deepen our lives.

Eudaemonic pleasure, on the other hand, is rooted in meaning, growth, and alignment with our core values. This is the kind of pleasure we feel when we’re living in a way that feels authentic and connected to purpose—when we pursue relationships, work, education, volunteerism, and experiences that nourish us on a deeper level. It’s the satisfaction of having a heartfelt conversation, creating something meaningful, or standing firm in a boundary that honors your truth. Eudaemonic pleasure may not always feel good in the moment, but the lasting sense of pleasure and satisfaction offers a deep delight that is profoundly nourishing for the soul.

Where hedonic pleasure is often immediate and sensory, eudaemonic pleasure is often slower to unfold. It’s about the fulfillment that comes from making choices aligned with who you are at your core.

How Pleasure Shapes the Nervous System

Both forms of pleasure play a critical role in how we regulate and care for our nervous systems.

Hedonic pleasure—the immediate enjoyment of things like the warmth of the sun on our skin, delicious food, or sexual arousal—can directly influence how our nervous system responds. These experiences might activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which supports the “rest and digest” state by slowing the heart rate, deepening breath, and promoting a sense of safety and calm. At times, hedonic pleasure can also activate the sympathetic system—however, in a way that’s enlivening, such as the pleasurable excitement of a good workout or the building of erotic energy. When we experience this kind of arousal in safe enough, and chosen contexts, it can expand our capacity to stay regulated through experiences of intensity more generally.

Trauma, chronic stress, or dissociation can disrupt these our systems—making it harder to access the regulating effects of pleasure. But even small, consistent ‘snacks’ of embodied pleasure can help re-pattern the nervous system toward safety and presence.

Eudaemonic pleasure—the deeper fulfillment we experience when we live in alignment with our values—also supports nervous system regulation, but in a ‘low and slow’ kind of way. Choosing relationships, activities, or work that reflect our life intentions and integrity can cultivate a sense of internal coherence: the feeling that our inner world matches how we’re showing up in the world. This coherence is a powerful signal of safety to the nervous system, particularly the vagus nerve, which is closely involved in both emotional regulation and social connection. When our choices feel congruent with who we are, our nervous system learns that we are safe to be ourselves. This tends to lead to long-term feelings of stability, reduced baseline stress, and a greater capacity for resilience over time.

In this way, both forms of pleasure—whether immediate and sensory or meaningful and value-driven—have their roles in nourish the nervous system.

Celebrating Both Forms of Pleasure

In a world that often prioritizes quick fixes and instant gratification, we can sometimes overlook the importance of eudaemonic pleasure. It may require slowing down, listening to ourselves, and making choices that don’t yield immediate rewards but build a foundation for long-term fulfillment.

That said, hedonic pleasures are not “shallow” or “less than.” They’re essential, especially during times of overwhelm, when grounding ourselves in sensory experiences can bring us back to the present moment. They’re also a fabulous ‘low risk high reward’ pathway to learning how to *feel* pleasure from the inside (strengthen our interoceptive skills).

The magic happens when we create space for both. Savor the small pleasures: light your favourite candles, dance to that banger of a song, or dive into the texture of your favorite blanket. And, when it feels right, reflect on the bigger picture: Are the choices you’re making aligned with your values? Are you cultivating relationships and practices that nurture your soul?

Inner Wisdom as a Guide to Pleasure

At the heart of this conversation is the idea of choice. When we tune into our bodies and listen to our inner wisdom, we can discern what kind of pleasure we need in the moment. Sometimes, that’s the hedonic pleasure of taking a nap or indulging in something delicious. Other times, it’s the eudaemonic pleasure of choosing discomfort in the short term—like setting a challenging intention—because we know it serves our long-term well-being.

In somatic sex education, we often focus on reconnecting with the body’s wisdom as a way to access both forms of pleasure. This practice of slowing down, noticing, and honoring what feels just and right can lead to a deeper sense of joy, satisfaction, and self-trust.

An Invitation to Explore

What would it look like to nurture both hedonic and eudaemonic pleasure in your life? Maybe it’s allowing yourself to enjoy a sensory delight today—a warm drink, a sunset, a sexy solo play session. And perhaps it’s also pausing to reflect on how your daily choices align with the life you want to create and the world you want to live in.

Both forms of pleasure are gifts, and when we embrace them with intention, they become powerful tools for healing, connection, and joy.